Clothing firm puts on the style with successful sales push

Fast-growing uniform experts NKD Clothing has landed a string of prestigious contracts from tourist venues across the UK.

The firm is celebrating wins which will see it provide bespoke and stylish uniforms to leading names, including historic Alnwick Castle in Northumberland and the luxury Cheshire retreat, Nunsmere Hall as well as back of house outfits to Edinburgh’s Balmoral Hotel.

It means NKD Clothing has landed around £10,000 of high-profile new business in the past month, reaping success from the appointment of an experienced, specialist Sales Consultant.

Recruitment and sales expert Joe McShane has been providing support to NKD Clothing since February and has been credited with dramatically increasing the number of opportunities.

Gill Eastgate, managing director of NKD Clothing said: “We have absolute faith in our people and our products. When we get in front of potential clients they are won over by what we offer because we are passionate and committed to quality, both of which shine through.

“However, getting in front of people is the most difficult part. Joe has been a revelation and these recent contract wins show what can be achieved.

“Working with nationally and internationally renowned names like The Balmoral and Alnwick Castle is an amazing endorsement for us and what we do. Needless to say we are delighted to have openings with clients like these and we hope they will develop further.”

The Alnwick Castle contract – to supply classically stylish uniforms to staff in the castle’s cafe and its formal restaurant – has also been a showcase for NKD Clothing’s skills in turning round projects in an short time.

The firm had only a few weeks to come up with final designs and is now racing to have the garments fitted and made for around 20 staff in time for an April 1 launch. The team is confident the outfits, including bespoke, embroidered aprons will be delivered ahead of schedule.

Jill Robertson, design project manager, said the NKD team also faced the challenge of coming up with a look that crossed over seamlessly between two areas.

She added: “It can be difficult trying to link casual and formal areas, we have achieved that by giving the cafe staff relaxed-yet-smart shirts in Old Gold, while the Sanctuary restaurant staff will wear beautiful bespoke aprons with the S motif embroidered in gold on the front.

“Staff will feel great wearing the finished outfits, while the look complements the interior design. It could earn us the chance to provide uniforms for other staff at the castle.”

The Balmoral Hotel project is to provide durable and practical uniforms for behind-the-scenes staff at the luxury venue in the heart of the Scottish capital. NKD Clothing have supplied polo shirts and combat trousers for support staff.

Zander Bruce, NKD’s project manager, said: “These outfits have to be practical, hard-wearing and easy-to-wash. The people wearing them aren’t highly-visible, like the concierge staff, but it is still important they have the right work wear and feel part of a team. We’re delighted to have this opportunity with a hotel of the Balmoral’s calibre.”

NKD Clothing has also won a contract to outfit staff at Nunsmere Hall Hotel, a luxury lakeside retreat in Cheshire. As well as providing suits for management and reception staff the NKD team will also kit out food and beverage staff with distinctive Edwardian style bib aprons. The contract is for 20 staff in the first instance.

Another contract will see NKD Clothing providing sleek outfits for around 20 staff at the The Parkville in Blantyre, Lanarkshire. The former hotel has been transformed by the Lisini Pub Co. NKD hope to also supply garments to the chain’s three other Lanarkshire venues.

NKD Clothing is one of the UK’s leading designers and providers of bespoke uniforms, work wear and corporate clothing. It is particularly strong in the hospitality sector and has outfitted staff in leading hotel chains including Malmaison, Hotel du Vin and Dakota.

The company has been identified by Scottish Enterprise as a potential high-growth company. Since Gill Eastgate let a management buyout in 2005 she has turned it into £1.3million a year business employing nine people in Edinburgh.